And now, was the real battle…
Tsubomi Hanasaki (France) vs. Lucia Nanami (Albania)
Showdown!
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Marseilles, France
Stade Vélodrome…
The host, with many of advantage, would have to do their mission: to win the next match to qualify for the next round! Marseilles was calling!
Albania must win to survive!
France must win to qualify!
Deschamps is an impressive manager, he and Tsubomi would do the best, while Lucia, after many of problem, had tried to ask for help from Gianni De Biasi.
Now, this time for the anthems…
ALBANIA
Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar
Me një dëshir' e një qëllim,
Të gjith' atij duke iu betuar
Të lidhim besën për shpëtim.
Prej lufte veç ai largohet
Që është lindur tradhëtor,
Kush është burrë nuk frigohet,
Po vdes, po vdes si një Dëshmor!
(Around our flag we stand united,
With one wish and one goal,
A sacred oath we bestow upon it
Proclaiming loyalty for our salvation.
From war abstains only he,
Who a traitor is born,
He who is a true man is not frightened,
But dies a warrior to the cause.)
FRANCE
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!
Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!
(Arise, children of the Fatherland,
The day of glory has arrived!
Against us tyranny's
Bloody banner is raised, (repeat)
Do you hear, in the countryside,
The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
They're coming right into your arms
To cut the throats of your sons, your women!
To arms, citizens,
Form your battalions,
Let's march, let's march!
Let an impure blood
Soak our fields!)
Yes, it was the match decide everything…
Tsubomi and Lucia looked, Tsubomi felt a bit of shy… Lucia also felt nervous…
Super anthem from the French against the Illyrian warriors, well, let see… Napoléon vs. Skanderbeg, now!
First half!
VIVE LA FRANCE! France got controlled at first, however, sometimes, we saw Albanians defend their lines. Seeing this match, Andrea Pirlo had soon discovered the problem…
"Hhhmm, that's strange, well, France's defense seemed unsecured. But with a strong midfield and forward, France can use this advantage to cover this problem."
When Lorik Cana, the old captain of Albania, had lost his chance to play due to the red card, Albania needed a new way. France was okay.
Some Albanians tried to take up their chance, but mass strikes from Frenchmen totally exhausted Albania's strength much.
According to Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa, he believed Albania's main strength, was to depend on Etrit Berisha, the goalkeeper of this tea. The Black Eagle seemed need a strength from Berisha. Without Cana, only Etrit could do this. Well, Mexico did meet Albania once, 2001, which Mexico won 4-0.
Then, French team tried to attack again. Giroud and Martial!
Tsubomi saw that Lucia started to singing. Now she tried to perform as a singer. She is best known as a mermaid too.
But Kaito wasn't in the stadium… again, while Olivier? Yeah, he appeared. Without Kaito, Lucia got problem.
In the stadium, over 15.000 Albanians in this 67.000 capacity had a total strength for Albania, but Lucia needed a performance. Tsubomi realized this, so she turned into a Cure.
Martial and Payet, they moved… crossed!
Cakkkkkkkk…
French combination, including Martial, only success in total 2/3 field though. Albania played well at their home field but entering to French line was not easy.
Elseid Hysaj… he tried to make cross for Sadiku but the ball came to Lloris…
Now was Giroud… Payet, lol…
Tsubomi sent a sudden strike, as Scottish ref. William Collum went up to see why. Albania could believe on Armando Sadiku, although they could still believe on something special. Ermir Lenjani should have calmed, but he failed anyway.
It was 35'.
Ansi Agolli clearly handled the ball but referee blew something… handball, so a free kick was awarded to France.
Lucia seemed take back stable, she used the song "Skanderbeg's soul" to encourage Albania making some plan. But Tsubomi, with Oliver's help, had used her flowers…
"Hai!"
Blaise Matuidi! Oh, penalized, really? It was 38'.
But Ledian Memushaj couldn't do better than Blaise. Shame…
Corner kick for Albania? They almost created danger, but weak offensive could not help them anything. Ermir Lenjani tried to get ball from corner, but another corner… wasn't successfully as the first one.
Martial!
Martial made everyone remember to Zidane, but Albanian defenders drove out easily.
At the later, in 44', while Lucia song continued to cheer Albanian souls, suddenly… OHHHH, foul from Albania, Patrice Evra injured! Even though, Ledian Memushaj kicked ball from a free kick!
Nothing.
Later, corner kick also couldn't help Albania. 0-0 and the first half ended…
Lucia and Tsubomi had been holding ground, only 0-0 for both. As host, France would not let this result come through…
Being draw with the weakest team would affect a lot. Learn from the USA at Copa América please… At least, the USA only lost to the giant Colombia… and Colombia isn't Albania.
0-0!
…
…
…
…
…
Second half! Tsubomi vs. Lucia back!
Deschamps trusted Tsubomi this time, meanwhile, De Biasi had to look on Lucia. After the controversial first match, now he had a chance to see Lucia. And Lucia was good.
At 46', COMAN! HE LATCHED ON TO LOFTED PASS INSIDE BOX… BUT HE MISSED! KIDDING ME?
However, not for long…
The Grande Armée was facing problem from the Black Eagle! WAIT, LEDIAN MEMUSHAJ! HE GATHERED BY A HEADER! OHHHH… RIGHT POST SAVED FRANCE! AND THEN THE HEADING WENT OUTSIDE! NO GOAL! 0-0!
Lucia almost got chance to celebrate, but the missing of Kaito again made her feeling weakened… Andrea Pirlo, he was cheering for France…
"Paul Pogba, well said…"
POGBA! GOLDEN CHANCE! AWWWW CROSSBAR, HE MISSED NARROWLY!
Why France played like Brazil 2 years ago?
Burim Kukeli got another yellow card. Adding with his yellow card on the match vs. Switzerland, he was unable to play at the last match vs. Romania.
But Coman, Payet and Pogba couldn't do better, because of this, Tsubomi…
"Come out, Seishiro Tsugumi!"
BOOM! Tsugumi appeared! Tsugumi decided to shoot down the game as soon as possible. Due to the fact that Lucia had a full strength of making total defense over Albanian line, Tsubomi and Seishiro had to win by the best. They must destroy it!
COMAN! AHHHH, GIROUD…
GIROUD AGAIN! OH C'MON! DAMN…
…
Now going to 73', seemed that Albania didn't want to move all. Pierre Gignac appeared! At the few later minutes, Lucia called…
"KONATA IZUMI, SONATA TIME!"
BOOM! Konata Izumi appeared…
Bacary Sagna now in, telling to all the teammates that must score as soon as possible! Laurent Koscielny launched ball attack.
At the time when the match only got 5', Andrea Pirlo had a huge surprise, the Albanians they played…
"Cantenaccio. In the dirty way, De Biasi had ordered his students to play dirty Cantenaccio. So this is the way they used in this match. If this opponent were Spain, Spain would end Albania's tactics, but… France…"
"Also have dirty Cantenaccio?" Charisteas, who also appeared, he surprised: "Dirty Cantenaccio? This is Italy's way to play football?"
"There are three kinds of Cantenaccio, man." Pirlo explained to Charisteas: "White Cantenaccio, Slow Cantenaccio, and Dark Cantenaccio."
"Oh man, I don't know that… so, Dirty Cantenaccio meant…"
"They called Dark Cantenaccio. To play, you have to accept that you can't win, so you have to hold them as long as you can. Playing this, you will cause more fouls, you will strike down and hold until no goal i scored…"
While they were explaining, suddenly… RAMI! HE CROSSED, AND…
…
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! 1-0 for France! ANTOINE GRIEZMANN! VIVE LA FRANCE!
1 goal down meaning that Albania's chance was over. Lucia saw that… When she was focusing with Konata, Tsubomi had called two girls: Seishiro and Nozomi! At 90', really?
But it wasn't over, when Lucia just called Rei, Rei found that too late to prevent, but… GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! Dimitri Payet! PAYEEEEEEEET! 2-0! And so… it was over…
Why France scored two goals?
Because while Lucia was trying to hold line, suddenly she found a massive strength led by others, but she didn't aware until 90'. True.
Two late goals from France ended Albania's hope of taking both 1st and 2nd place. Disaster!
VIVE LA FRANCE! AND OVER!
2-0!
Tsubomi Hanasaki (France) 2-0 Lucia Nanami (Albania)
Didier Deschamps could smile happily, meanwhile, with De Biasi, Albania's chance… officially… closed.
De Biasi felt disappointed after all. What a disgrace for him.
But Deschamps hugged his men so much. Tsubomi got a huge shake from Pogba for it. Griezmann too.
Well done, Grande Armée.